Jammy little dodger may not be extinct

A hu ndred jam sandwich traps have been hidden in remote forests in Yorkshire in an attempt to catch a mammal thought to have been extinct in England for 100 years.

Scientists will discreetly monitor the sticky mixture, squashed into plastic feeding tubes, for hairs and other DNA traces of pine martens, which once roamed the area under royal protection because of their thick, highly-valued fur.

Local naturalists have logged 35 suspected marten sightings on the densely-wooded fringes of the North York Moors since 1990, but none gave much more detail than a swift, brown shadow moving swiftly through the trees. Then, in July, an experienced wildlife photographer gave an accurate description of a marten which triggered the current rethink of English Nature's extinct species status.

"We think that most of the 35 reports were probably mistaken identity, but some were very convincing," said Brian Walker, regional biodiversity officer for the Forestry Commission in the North York Moors national park. "It could be that there's always been a presence in this area, but we feel it's more likely that they are recolonising from Scotland, where colonies are well-known. They often travel up to 20 miles a day while foraging and they could have easily worked their way back south."

The traps, which also contain a pine marten dietary favourite, shredded chicken wings, have been devised by biologists at Hull University and local wildlife groups.

Growing up to 30ins long, the marten has dark fur and a white bib which have led to mistaken sightings in the past which turned out to be fox cubs.